I’ve had 35 close encounters with polar bears during my time as an explorer and campaigner for the Arctic Ocean. There’s always that surge of adrenaline when you see one – that sense of: “Oh God, it’s happening.” I’ve learned how to deal with bears over the years. Although I take a shotgun and special cartridges – they’re … Read more
I’m in my early 60s and have been happily married for more than 25 years. I’ve come to accept that I’m bisexual but haven’t told anyone. About two years ago my wife found me wearing a pair of her black lace panties, something I do sometimes as it turns me on. She was angry and … Read more
I’ve come to a moment in my life I never expected; I’m contemplating starting a relationship, not out of love or passion, but out of fear – fear of the future. I always thought I’d be above such reasoning. But witnessing illness up close, seeing the care my father received from his wife and us … Read more
The first bluebells are out along the Dart gorge, creating a faint purple haze under the twisted oak trees. I’m on my way to Luckey Tor, one of Dartmoor’s most hidden rock stacks, which sits by the river, shrouded in vegetation like Sleeping Beauty’s castle. It’s not the easiest of walks. The path peters out … Read more
Looking back to 2022, it seems impossible that anyone ever believed that Brian “Liver King” Johnson achieved his physique without pharmaceutical assistance. He looks like a hot water bottle stuffed with bowling balls, an 80s action figure with more veins – an improbably muscular man who put his bodybuilder-shaming physique down to a diet of … Read more
The prosecution: Tim It’s gross – I wouldn’t use her toothbrush, so why would I use her earphones? I’ve been going out with my girlfriend, Lila, for three years. We obviously know each other intimately, but I just can’t get on board with sharing earphones. There’s something so gross about it. I hate cleaning off someone else’s earwax … Read more
Creatine has long been popular among athletes. Olympians tout it, fitness influencers experiment with it, and Patrick Schwarzenegger’s gym bro character in The White Lotus added it to his famous shake. It’s primarily considered a fitness supplement, but doctors are increasingly curious about its potential longevity and mental health benefits. But is creatine really useful, … Read more
In 2003, I was at a dinner of “the like-minded” (Oxford University code for gay) when an academic leaving for a sabbatical in New York asked a favour: would I take over his slot as a volunteer reader for a gay blind man living alone in east Oxford? I agreed, and so one evening in … Read more
The other day, a visiting friend and I planned a trip to the seaside. I was taking her on the scenic route to the station, ambling happily along, when she pointed out: we might miss our train. We made it with seconds to spare. My friend was very understanding, but it was a wake-up call. … Read more
There are two types of people on any UK hiking trail: those wearing walking boots, and those who have yet to experience the unmistakable sensation of cowpat seeping through their trainers. I belong in the first camp and firmly believe that the great outdoors is best enjoyed in appropriate footwear. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. … Read more